What Veera Musigapong said cannot be...

POLITICAL BATTLE.

September 3, 1986

BANGKOK, THAILAND — POLITICAL BATTLE. What Veera Musigapong said cannot be transmitted by news agencies. If they did, they would be liable to the same charge that he faces, lese-majeste. That's defaming the monarchy and it is serious business in Thailand, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Veera, a deputy interior minister, made general remarks about privileged ways of life at an election rally in July. Conservative politicians and some military officers have seized on the case to get at Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda, who has moved the country closer to a civilian-run democracy and at the Democrats, Thailand's largest political party. Veera is the secretary-general of the party, which has criticized the army's political role.